Indian Fig Opuntia, Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus indica)

Pictures

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  Erscheinungsbild

  The Indian Fig Cactus has been widely established throughout the Mediterranean region for a long time. Its fruit is extremely tasty, but unfortunately also very prickly.

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  Blätter

  No leaves in the common sense of the word. The plant is made up of flat shoots, from which new shoots sprout. The plant is covered with prickly spines.

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  Blüten

  Flowering period: V to VI. Exceedingly attractive yellow tubular fruit, approx. 5 cm long.

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  Früchte

  5 cm large fruit with red or yellow, sweet, juicy pulp. The fruits have numerous small prickly spines and should not be handled without gloves. The prickly skin is peeled off like a stocking before eating the fruit.

Anwendung

Open country, open fields, parks, container plants, kitchen gardens

Heimatgebiete

Mexico

Standortparameter

Light: full sun to slightly sunny; soil: slightly dry to fresh; soil structure: normal to loose; soil depth: shallow to very deep; humus concentration: low to medium; pH value: moderately acid to alkaline; nutrient concentration: low to normal; soil: slightly dry to fresh.

Ansprüche

Does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

Frosthärte

down to -5 C°

unknown

Height of growth: 3 to 5 m. Subshrub with upright habit.

Blätter

No leaves in the common sense of the word. The plant is made up of flat shoots, from which new shoots sprout. The plant is covered with prickly spines.

Blüten

Flowering period: V to VI. Exceedingly attractive yellow tubular fruit, approx. 5 cm long.

Früchte

5 cm large fruit with red or yellow, sweet, juicy pulp. The fruits have numerous small prickly spines and should not be handled without gloves. The prickly skin is peeled off like a stocking before eating the fruit.

Rinde

No bark in the usual sense of the word. Leathery outer skin.